标签： Trinidad and Tobago

A significant discrepancy has emerged between official noise pollution statistics and ground-level realities in Trinidad and Tobago, according to anti-noise advocacy group Citizens Against Noise Pollution in TT (CANPTT). While the Environmental Management Authority’s 2024 report indicated a 2% decrease in noise complaints through its hotline and a 16% reduction in police-reported cases, the NGO contends these figures mask a troubling reality of citizen disillusionment with reporting mechanisms.

The EMA’s data revealed 464 total noise complaints, with 312 referred to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) as falling outside their jurisdiction. The breakdown showed residential loud music (314 complaints) as the predominant concern, followed by bar music (72) and establishment noise (27). Notably, the EMA’s dedicated hotline received only two complaints about residential music noise, suggesting potential underutilization.

CANPTT Vice President Lindy-Ann Bachoo challenged the statistical narrative, stating that declining complaint numbers reflect institutional failure rather than improved conditions. “Many citizens have complaint fatigue. When citizens repeatedly report, follow up, and see no meaningful intervention, many eventually stop reporting altogether,” Bachoo explained.

The advocacy group identified multiple systemic failures: inadequate after-hours reporting options at EMA, limited enforcement personnel (reportedly just eight officers in 2025), and jurisdictional confusion between EMA and police services. Additionally, CANPTT reported that residents face “threats and intimidation” when attempting to report excessive noise, further discouraging formal complaints.

The 2001 Noise Complaints Pollution Regulations exempt numerous activities including religious events, educational instruction, public gatherings, emergency devices, and construction activities between 7am-7pm. This regulatory framework, combined with perceived institutional inaction, has created what CANPTT describes as a situation where “silence is self-preservation” for affected residents.

The organization concludes that the apparent reduction in complaints represents a crisis of confidence in protective institutions rather than genuine improvement in noise pollution levels, calling for comprehensive reform of noise management systems and enforcement protocols.

In a landmark ruling addressing domestic violence, High Court Justice Trevor Jones has issued a powerful judicial condemnation against gender-based violence while sentencing Vishal Birju for the 2020 killing of Gabriella Amanda Dubarry, the mother of his child. The court accepted a plea agreement that reduced the charge from murder to manslaughter by reason of provocation, resulting in a final sentence of 12 years and 23 days after accounting for time served.

The case stems from the January 9, 2020 incident where Birju, disguised in women’s Islamic clothing, forced entry into Dubarry’s Avocat Village residence. The 28-year-old insurance agent was preparing for work when the masked intruder confronted her. According to evidence presented, Dubarry’s mother recognized Birju’s voice and fled the premises, hearing gunshots moments later. She returned to discover her daughter fatally wounded by gunshots to the head and torso, while Dubarry’s infant child, present during the attack, miraculously remained unharmed.

Justice Jones delivered a stern message alongside the sentencing, emphasizing that “society must understand that a woman is not the property of a man” and that “the retributive sentence must reflect this.” The judge further recommended that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions reconsider accepting plea agreements in cases involving domestic violence and allegations of infidelity.

During the proceedings, Birju expressed remorse for his actions, particularly acknowledging the impact on his young son: “I turned my son’s fairytale life into a nightmare when I took his mother from him. The person I’ve caused the most pain to was him.”

Police investigations revealed that Birju had purchased the .38-caliber firearm weeks earlier and confessed to acting under stress related to custody disputes and ongoing conflicts with Dubarry’s family. He subsequently led officers to where he had discarded the weapon following the shooting.

Legal representation included Michelle Ali and Shuzvon Ramdass from the Public Defenders’ Department for Birju, while state prosecutors Solange Devenish and Josiah Soo Hon represented the prosecution.

While steel beams rise for the iconic North Stand at Port of Spain’s Carnival grounds, deeper structural questions surround Trinidad and Tobago’s premier cultural celebration. The National Carnival Commission (NCC) confirms the stand’s construction remains on schedule for mid-January completion at nearly 50% reduced cost from 2025—a tangible example of the government’s expenditure-tightening measures.

Yet beneath surface-level preparations, significant planning ambiguities persist. Since August’s official launch with the underwhelming “You Go Love This” theme, observable policy drift has characterized the approach to February’s festivities. Critical elements including the parade route remain undiscussed, while marketing efforts have seemingly been limited to a discreetly launched website. Prize money allocations for major events still await formal announcement through proper press conferences.

Culture Minister Michelle Benjamin’s July-ordered spending audit has yielded minimal public updates, though her August reference to an Inter-American Development Bank study on Carnival’s revenue impact suggests broader economic considerations. The allocated $137 million budget shows negligible reduction from previous $140 million allocations, yet fresh memories persist of the minister’s contentious funding disputes with Emancipation Day stakeholders.

Additional complications emerge from the Prime Minister’s restrictions on state facility fetes—triggering logistical challenges and community dissatisfaction—and newly enacted noise pollution measures targeting fireworks. The shadow of August’s abruptly canceled Independence Day events, justified by security concerns during a state of emergency, continues to influence perceptions despite the situation’s normalization.

Geopolitical tensions and speculation about US military activities contribute further layers of uncertainty to the planning landscape. Nevertheless, stakeholders including the NCC proceed with determination, embodying Carnival’s enduring spirit: regardless of challenges, the show must go on.

A glaring deficiency in public amenities at two of Trinidad’s most frequented locations has triggered substantial public dismay, highlighting systemic infrastructure neglect. City Gate, Port of Spain’s primary transportation hub serving hundreds of daily commuters including schoolchildren, exhibits critically inadequate facilities with merely a single functional female toilet available for massive public use.

The situation becomes particularly dire for vulnerable demographics including elderly citizens, pregnant women, and disabled individuals who find no wheelchair-accessible facilities. The absence of baby changing stations further compounds the problem, denying mothers basic infant care infrastructure.

Parallel deficiencies plague the Queen’s Park Savannah food court, another popular public gathering spot. During a December 13 visit, the author experienced firsthand the embarrassing reality of insufficient sanitation facilities. Despite the area’s popularity among food vendors and visitors, only one toilet exists which frequently remains locked during operational hours.

The infrastructure crisis extends beyond sanitation to include inadequate seating arrangements. City Gate suffers from insufficient benches for commuters awaiting PTSC bus services, despite known reliability issues with public transportation.

Critical questions emerge regarding compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OHSA) regulations, particularly concerning clean water availability and overall facility maintenance. While authorities cite concerns about socially displaced persons misusing facilities, the solution of hiring security personnel remains unimplemented.

The author’s frustration reflects broader public sentiment toward perceived stagnation in societal development, with comparisons to ‘banana republic’ conditions and ‘caveman era’ infrastructure. As 2025 progresses, citizens demand urgent modernization of public facilities across Trinidad’s popular gathering points, calling for immediate action from relevant ministries and administrative bodies.